Long Noncoding RNA pancEts-1 Promotes Neuroblastoma Progression through hnRNPK-Mediated β-Catenin Stabilization

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play essential roles in tumor progression. However, the functions of lncRNAs in the tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of neuroblastoma still remain to be determined. Here, we report the identification of lncRNA <i>pancEts-1</i> as a novel driver of neuroblastoma progression by using a public microarray dataset. LncRNA <i>pancEts-1</i> promoted the growth, invasion, and metastasis of neuroblastoma cells <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> Mechanistically, <i>pancEts-1</i> bound to hnRNPK to facilitate its physical interaction with β-catenin, whereas hnRNPK stabilized the β-catenin by inhibiting proteasome-mediated degradation, resulting in transcriptional alteration of target genes associated with neuroblastoma progression. Both <i>pancEts-1</i> and <i>hnRNPK</i> were upregulated in clinical neuroblastoma tissues, and were associated with unfavorable outcome of patients. Overall, our results define an oncogenic role of <i>pancEts-1</i> in neuroblastoma progression through hnRNPK-mediated β-catenin stabilization, with potential implications for the clinical therapeutics of neuroblastoma.<b>Significance:</b> These findings reveal the oncogenic functions of a long noncoding RNA in neuroblastoma progression, offering a potential target for clinical therapeutics. <i>Cancer Res; 78(5); 1169-83. ©2018 AACR</i>.